Una hora menos

  Kyiv verses These lines are written  With the finish still unknown To this Russian war from hell Unleashed by the mad Putin.  We thought for years that wars Were prisoners of the history books Film titles long enshrined In the concrete of the mind.  Yes we heard of foreign battles Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan But they were over ‘there’ Outside our conscious zone.  The big battles were all fought All soldiers dead, fifty years ago The heroes of war movies  Not the here and now.  We fought our battles on the screens With popcorn in our armchairs Not in blood in army trenches Not with people we recognized.  Now it’s real, now it’s human Now it’s close and personal The West is fighting hard With fair Ukraine as cover.  There is the chance of a mistake A careless lighter finds the grass A conflagration that consumes us all The dice is thrown, the ball’s in play.  This war has shown us that the stakes Rise higher all the time Our colors lie ...

 Here in the Canaries We’re one full hour behind The ancient far off mainland But that’s ok, we’re fine.  They get up an hour earlier While we can party later It seems to work  for us I’d certainly wager.  The Spaniards came and conquered The isles of eternal spring  But in turn they were captivated  By the lands they sought to win.  Seven isles of magic Gleaming in the sun Surrounded by blue seas There for everyone.